We were lucky to catch up with Ah’Nyah Dudley recently and have shared our conversation below.
Ah’Nyah, thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?
Realizing the opportunities that I have encourage me to not waste them. Time management is the best way to not waste opportunities, and you have to have discipline to manage effectively.
My self-discipline will always be a work in progress or require some maintenance. But the keys have always been limiting distractions and remembering why I am doing something.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the same city I was born in. My interest in art started like any other toddler’s but it was cultivated by my father. He has worked in character design and illustration for over 25 years and shared his love with us three girls. My mom is not “pencil artistic”, but has taught me the arts of life. Her animated warmth has inspired my art style and lifestyle.
I love how working with authors expands my perspective. While working on personal projects it can be easy to stay within my comfort zone. When illustrating, it’s about the author and finding what works with their purpose. This almost always means trying something new. -which improve your skill set.
When I am not drawing for authors I find inspiration from the real world (and Pinterest…a little bit if that). I go digital for project work, but I prefer traditional when practicing. Drawing requires problem solving even when you are just creating for yourself. I think that is one thing many non-artist don’t realize. I am always thinking about how to help my audience immediately recognize an object, or certain texture, or a specific expression – and I love it!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Self-discipline is important. This is the quality that will ensure you keep practicing. Consistency will take you farther than any motivation. To be consistent you have to be disciplined about practicing.
Being observant in everyday life has helped my skills too. All art is somehow inspired by the real world. While in restaurants, for example, I really notice the shapes that make up the chair or “What colors make up the shadows that show my mind the where the table top ends and the sides start?”. Noticing those things improve artistic accuracy and enhances creativity.
And, finally, patience. One artist told me that though mind gets trained sooner that our hand – meaning it can be easier to know what looks right than to make something look right. Most of what you draw may not feel “post-worthy” but all of what you draw is practice that helps you get better.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
This all begin thanks to my father and his willingness to share his love for art with me. We still work together for sone of our projects and critique each others’ art. Having that second pair of eyes, especially ones that are very experienced, always improve my work. He sparked one of the greatest sources of my joy- for this and more- I could never say thank you enough.
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